Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday, 17 December 2023

Sandbox for Experiment in Transport

 


 

Context :

Global AI Conclave: Innovation authority to navigate emerging challenges, says Priyank Kharge

( Money Control  /  16 Dec 2023 )


Extract :

Karnataka Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge said on December 16 that an innovation authority would address gaps arising from emerging technologies.

Speaking at the CNBC-TV18 & Moneycontrol Global AI Conclave 2023, he said,

" If a new technology emerges, this authority can conduct research and formulate policies."

In 2020, the state assembly passed the Karnataka Innovation Authority (KIA) bill, proposing sandboxes to exempt innovators from regulations.

However, startups, especially in the mobility sector, continue to face challenges.

"The government often lags behind technology. If there's a technology without a corresponding policy, the innovation authority can house it until a policy is established," Kharge said.

Citing an example of the Motor Vehicle Act, he said, "Our rules still don't permit ride-sharing and other innovations in the mobility sector" he said.

He proposed making the government the first customer for AI startups, facilitating collaboration through a global innovation alliance with 33 countries to provide access to networking, market access, and funding opportunities.

===================================================

Dear Shri Khargeji,

 

( minister.rdpritbtkar@gmail.com  /  min.itbt@karnataka.gov.in  / vcksrdpru2016@gmail.com ) :

 

Thank you for your following “ trailblazing “ announcements :

Ø  innovation authority would address gaps arising from emerging technologies

Ø  " If a new technology emerges, this authority can conduct research and formulate policies."

Ø  If there's a technology without a corresponding policy, the innovation authority can house it until a policy is established

Ø  innovations in the mobility sector

 

Talking of “ Encouraging Innovations in Mobility Sector “ , I urge you to consider my following suggestion , which provides for a holistic solution to :

Ø  GHG ( CO2 ) Emission

Ø  Air Pollution

Ø  Global Warming

Ø  Traffic Congestion

Ø  Faster adoption of Electric Vehicles

Ø  Greater use of Public Transport

 

If you think it a fit candidate for trying out in a SANDBOX , I request you to refer it to the :

Karnataka Innovation Authority (KIA)  

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  17 Dec 2023

 


Ø  Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan ? …………………………… 20 Nov 2018

 

Extract :

Please allow me to offer following suggestion which will meet both these objectives

 

A : PROBLEM   STATEMENT

 

Transport is getting to be a big problem world-wide

By 2018 , total number of cars / buses / trucks in the world was approx. 1.4 Billion

By 2036 , this is expected to go up to 2.8 Billion ( doubling in 20 years )

I have not bothered to dig up figures for bicycles - 2 / 3 Wheeler – Tractors etc

In short travelling / transporting is getting to be a huge headache

And emission pollution is killing millions

All over the world , experts and authorities are coming up with a number of suggestions to solve this problem

To me, these attempts seem disparate / loose / uncoordinated / tangential

I have yet to come across a holistic / all-encompassing / multi-dimensional solution

 

Following is my suggestion for an   INTEGRATED LOGISTICS PLAN  [  ILP  ]

 

B : GUIDING PRINCIPLES / GOALS of  ILP

 

Minimize all kinds of transport

o   Minimize: Private transport / People travel / Polluting transport

o   Maximize: Public transport / Non-polluting transport / Video-Conferencing

o   Discourage: Land-based transport / “Within City “transport / “Privately Owned transport

o Encourage: Air based transport / Water based transport / “Public owned “Transport / Shared

                       transport / Night – time transport

o   Raise:        “ Ease of Doing Business “ rank to under 50

o   Lower:      “ Cost of logistics “ from current 14 % of GDP to 6 % of GDP

 

C:   ROAD-MAP TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES

 

o   Levying of TRANS-TAX on all vehicles from birth to death of a vehicle ( irrespective of change in ownership through gifting / selling )

o   TRANS-TAX will get collected automatically and for each hour of a vehicle’s life

o   In this collection process , there will be NO HUMAN INTERVENTION whatsoever

o   Amount of TRANS-TAX to be collected every hour , will depend on it’s TRANSCORE

o   A vehicle’s TRANSCORE will be based on its total HQ [ Harm Quotient ] for that hour

o   Higher the total HQ [ TRANSCORE ] , higher the TRANS-TAX ( directly proportional )

o   Logic : To lower their TRANS-TAX liability , people will opt for vehicles and driving conditions which generate a low TRANSCORE

o   TRANS-TAX will replace all other vehicle-related taxes ( eg : Registration tax / Road Tax etc ) , other than the GST payable by buyer at time of purchase of vehicle

o   TRANS-TAX will be uniform throughout India but credited to the State in which vehicle is, at each hour of its life

o   TRANS-TAX will be computed as per following HQ  MATRIX . For exact mechanism , look up para on TECHNOLOGY  PLATFORM below

o   This is a conceptual frame work and transport experts may debate and come up with a different set of “ Factors “ / “ Weightages “ / “ Rating Scales “

o   Without doubt , all of these will differ from country to country and from time to time , within the same country

 

D: LOGIC   FOR   DETERMINING   “HARM QUOTIENT"

 

  HQ [ Harm Quotient] Matrix

 

Rating Scale

Worst  (5)

Bad  (4)

Fair  (3)

Good  (2)

Best (1)

Factor / 

Weightage

Energy Source /

15

Diesel

Petrol

Hybrid

Li-ion Battery

Solar Roof  Car

Ownership

10

Private

Leased

Short hire / Ride-share

Municipality

Government

Purpose

5

Carry people

Carry  Goods

Industrial Use

Age of Vehicle

    5

  10 +  years

8  – 10  years

6 - 8  years

4 - 6  years

<  4  years

Type of Vehicle

5

Car

Scooter

Quadricycle / Rickshaw

Bus

Train / Metro/ Boat

Capacity

5

1 person

2 persons

3 - 4 persons

5 - 50 persons

  50 +

Space Used

5

City Roads

City Metro

Highways

Train tracks

Inland waterways

Time when used

5

8am -10am

5pm -7pm

10am -12noon

7pm - 9pm

12noon - 5pm

9pm -12midnight

12midnight -8am

Where used

20

Within City

Outside City

State of Use

20

In Motion

Parked

If Parked-where

10

On Public Road

In public parking lot

In Private Garage

 

 

 


E : ILLUSTRATION  OF  THE   COMPUTATION  OF  HQ



Factor :  
Energy Source  

Diesel / Petrol / Hybrid / Li-ion Battery Powered / Powered by Solar Roof Top

Factor Rating                           :   5 (Worst) / 4 / 3 (Fair) / 2 (Good) /   1 (Best)

Factor Weightage                     :  15

Select                                       :    Diesel 

HQ (Harm Quotient )               = Rating x Weightage  = 5 x 15  =  75

 

Factor :  Ownership

Private  / Leased / Short hire - Ride Share  /  Municipality  / Government

Factor  Rating                          :    5 ( worst ) /  4  /  3 ( Fair )  /  2  (  Good  ) /  1 ( Best )

Factor Weightage                     :    10

Select                                       :    Private

HQ                                           =  Rating x  Weightage  =  5 x  10  =  50

 

Factor  :   Purpose

Carry People  /   Carry  Goods   /   Industrial Use

Factor  Rating                          :      People (Worst - 5 ) / Goods ( Fair ) / Ind  Use ( Best  - 1 )   

Factor  Weightage                    :      5

Select                                       :      People

HQ                                           :     Rating  x  weightage  =  5  x  5   =   25

 

Factor : Age of Vehicle

10 + years  / 8 – 10  years  /  6 - 8  years  /  4 - 6  years  /   < 4  years

Factor  Rating                          :    5  (  Worst   )  /  4  /  3  / 2   /  1  (  Best  )

Factor  Weightage                    :    5

Select                                       :   10 +   years

HQ                                           :   Rating x  Weightage  =  5  x  5  =  25

 

Factor    :   Type of Vehicle

Car  /  Scooter  /  Rickshaw  /  Bus   /  Train – Metro - Boat

Factor  Rating                          :  5 ( Worst  ) /  4   /  3  (  Fair )  /  2  (  Good ) /1 ( Best )

Factor  Weightage                    :    5

Select                                       :    Car

HQ                                           :   Rating x  weightage  =  5 x  5   =  25

 

Factor   :   Capacity

1 person  ( Worst )  /  2 persons   /  3-4 persons   /  5-50 persons  /   50  + persons (Best )     

Factor  Rating                          :    5 ( Worst   )   /  4  /  3 ( Fair ) /  2  /  1 ( Best )

Factor Weightage                     :    

Select                                       :     3 – 4 persons 

HQ                                           :     Rating  x  Weightage   =  3  x   5   =   15

 

Factor     :   Space Used

City Roads  /  City Metro  / Highways  /  Train tracks  /  Inland waterways

Factor Rating                           :    5  ( Worst ) /  4 / 3  / 2  /  1  (  Best  )

Factor Weightage                     :    5

Select                                       :    City Roads

HQ                                           :   Rating  x  Weightage  =  5  x  5   = 25

 

Factor      :   Time  of  use

 Worst  (  5  )                            >      8 am – 10 am  and  5 pm – 7 pm 
Bad    ( 4  )                              >     10 am – 12 noon and  7 pm – 9 pm
Fair     (  3 )                              >     12 noon  -  5 pm
Good  (  2  )                              >     9 pm – 12  midnight
Best   (  1  )                               >    12 midnight  - 8 am
Factor Weightage                     : 5
Select                                       : 8am – 10 am
HQ                                           : Rating x Weightage = 5x5 =25
  

   



 

                    

  

 

Factor     :   Where Used

 

Within city limits ( Worst  )  /   Outside City limits ( Best )

Factor   Rating                        :        5  (  worst )    /   1  (  Best  )

Factor  Weightage                   :       20

Select                                      :       Within city limits

HQ                                          :       Rating x  Weightage   =  5  x  20   =  100

 

 

Factor    :   State of use

 In Motion    (  Worst  )  /    Stationary - Parked  ( Best ) 

Factor  Rating                          :      5  (  Worst  )    /   1  (  Best  )

Factor  Weightage                   :     20

Select                                       :      Moving

HQ                                           :       Rating  x  Weightage  =  5  x  20   =  100

 

Factor      :   If  parked

On Public Road  /  In Public parking plot  /  In Private garage 

Factor Rating                           :     5  (  Worst)   /   3  (  Fair  )    /   1   (  Best  )

Factor  weightage                    :    10

Select                                       :    None ( since car is in motion )

HQ                                           :   Not  Applicable

 

 

F   :    TRANSCORE  IS  TOTAL  OF  HQs  OF VARIOUS  FACTORS

 

So , what kind of vehicle are we tracking ?

 

Diesel    /   Privately owned   /   Carrying People   /  >  10  years  old  /   Car  /   3 – 4 persons   /  On City Roads  /  8 am – 10 am  /  Within city  /  Moving 

 

What is the total HQ  [  Harm Quotient  ]  of this vehicle  ? 

 

75  +  50  +  25 +  25  +   25   +   15   +  25  +  25  +  100   +   100   =  465

 

This is usage having almost the “HIGHEST TRANSCORE” (Transcore = Σ of HQs) 

 

G    :    SOME   MORE   EXAMPLES  OF    TRANSCORE

 

Now following usage is one yielding a “ Very Low TRANSCORE “ :

 

Li-ion Battery driven Electric  /  Government Owned  / Industrial Use  /  < 4 years old  / Boat  /  carrying 50 + persons  /  Inland Waterways /  operating between 12 midnight  to 8 am  /  Outside City limits / Moving

 

TRANSCORE =  30 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5  + 5 + 5 + 20 + 100  =  190

 

 

And here is one likely usage , yielding a “ Moderate  TRANSCORE “ :

 

Petrol  /  short hire  /  for  people  /  6 – 8 years old vehicle  / Rickshaw  /  capacity 3 – 4 persons  /  On City roads   /  operating between 12 noon and 5 pm  /  within city limits  /  moving

 

TRANSCORE  =  60 + 30 + 25 + 15 + 15 + 15 + 25 + 15 + 100 + 100 =  400

 

H  :  TECHNOLOGY  PLATFORM 

This will consist of the following :

Ø  NaviC : the Navigator

 

Satellite based “ Vehicle Tracking / Monitoring “ system, covering entire India.  This will track all 220 + Million vehicles , on 24x7 , taking one reading every 10 minute to compute the HQ of each vehicle. Final HQ for a given hour will be the average of the 6 readings / hour

 

Based on ( variable ? ) TRANS-TAX  formula , NaviC will , every hour , deduct appropriate amount from  FASTag  RFID embedded in each vehicle and transfer to designated account of concerned State Government

 

For details of how this will work , read :

 

http://meity.gov.in/development-navic-chip-commercialcivilian-purposes

All you need to know about our desi navigation system — NaviC      

Indian company launches 'desi GPS' module that will run on NAVIC signals 

 

Ø  All vehicles

 

All Vehicle manufacturers will be mandated to embedded the vehicles with FASTag RFID sensors and other sensors , listed at :

Ø Internet  of  Vehicles  [ 04 March 2017  ]

 

From these sensors , NaviC will be able to pick up DATA re : Energy Source – Type of vehicle – Capacity – Manufacturing date – Purpose – Emission levels  etc , from all vehicles – ships – planes – drones etc

 

Trucks transporting GOODS , ( and embedded with RFID FASTags into all carried packages ) will enable NaviC to integrate with e-way bill system , as described in :

Ø   A New Way to E-Way ?  [  15  July  2017  ]

 

From following news ( 19 Nov 2018 ) , it seems this suggestion is already under implementation :

 

Govt plans linking e-way bill with FASTag, logistics data bank to check GST evasion

 

Obviously each vehicle being driven ( in motion ) is driven by a driver with a DRIVING LICENSE

 

Just like E – PASSPORTS , driving licenses too can be embedded with RFID     sensors ( carrying full data of the driver ) . This data will be picked up by NaviC. 

 

It is safe to assume that most – if not all – of the passengers in a vehicle , are carrying smart phones with GPS feature . NaviC will be able to pick up this data and    figure out various kinds of statistics ( Ave no of passengers / Total no of passengers). 

 

CCTV cameras mounted on poles along city roads will be capturing the data ( images ) of the  HIGH SECURITY  vehicle number plates . I believe those CCTVs could be embedded with RFID sensors , which can relay such data to NaviC

 

      

·         Pre-loaded “ Payment Wallets “ [ FASTag ] , linked with owners’ Bank Accounts for automatic deductions every hour

 

·         Must have a dashboard which displays HQ MATRIX tabulation , with current STATUS of that vehicle highlighted , for ready reference by the driver / owner

 

·         Since it may not be possible to have HQ MATRIX tabulation displayed on the dashboard of a Scooter , there will be a Mobile App for the same

 

 

Ø  24x7 monitoring through

 

·         Central Control Room ( Central Transport Ministry )

·         State Control Rooms (State RTOs)

 

RTOs will be able to see on their monitors , HQ MATRIX of any vehicle ( registered in the State ) by simply clicking on the VEHICLE NUMBER appearing on the screen

 

To some extent , RTOs will function in much the same way as the Air Traffic Control Rooms at various airports , monitoring the movement of every vehicle ( including chain-snatchers riding a bike or running away after shooting )

 

I  :  HOW  WILL  THIS  SYSTEM  WORK  ?

 

Based on the continuous feedback ( of position of each vehicle ) by NaviC satellite, algorithm will do the following :

 

·         Calculate the “ TRAN-SCORE “ for each and every vehicle , every hour and publish it on a web site

 

·        Based on this “ TRAN-SCORE “ compute “ TRANS-TAX “ payable by each vehicle for each hour and automatically deduct it from “ Onboard Payment Wallet “ [ FASTag ]

 

·       If there is NIL balance in the Payment Wallet , immobilize the concerned vehicle , till payment gets made

 

·         Provide data to Insurance Companies for “ Dynamic “ insurance premiums payable

 

J    :   LINKAGE OF TRANSCORE  WITH  AMOUNT  OF  “ TRANS – TAX “  PAYABLE

 

Since TRANS – TAX is a replacement for the Road-Taxes ( except that it is payable and automatically deduced every hour ) , establishing a linkage would require , tabulating the road – taxes ( and other vehicle-ownership related taxes , if any ) for each type of vehicle in each State

 

I have not done this compilation but here is a suggestion :

 

Have 5 slabs of TRANSCORE as follows :

 

0-100  /  101–200  /  201-300  /  301-400  /  401–500

 

The lowest slab ( 0 – 100 ) will attract approximately the same amount of total ANNUAL ROAD-TAX that a given type of vehicle is currently pays . Call this BASE SLAB

 

Of course , other than a vehicle which is locked up in a garage for the entire year , no other vehicle which is being used regularly , can be in the BASE SLAB , throughout the year !

 

In fact , in the most likely scenario , a vehicle might have its TRANSCORE fluctuate all the way from ( say ) 50 to as high as 450 , during different times of the day  !

 

Linkage for the higher slabs can be :

 

·         101 –  200    >   150  % of the BASE SLAB tax

·         201 –  300    >   200  %

·         301  -  400   >    250  %

·         401  -  500   >    300  %

 

Idea behind such an upward SLIDING SCALE is to discourage usages which attract high HQ

 

K   :   HOW ELSE CAN A NAVIC BASED “ VEHICLE TRACKING – TAXING SYSTEM “ BENEFIT CITIZENS  ?

 

Following is a partial list :

o   Vehicle Arrival / Departure display Boards at Bus Stops – Train Stations – Airports – Sea Ports

Read : PUBLIC TRANSPORT AS A SOLUTION ?  [  15  Feb  2016  ]

 

o   Alerting Disaster Relief Teams – Hospitals – Ambulances – Relatives, during accidents

 

o   Powering Mobile Apps like Google Map for traffic density – time – alternate routes

Read  :   Making Yourself Obsolete ?                [  14  Feb  2016  ]

 

o   “Vehicles Population Database “ by Type – Age – Energy Source – Ownership etc

 

o   Generation of dynamic TRAFFIC MAPS in real time

 

o   Help plan new traffic systems ( Hyperloop / Pod Taxi / MagLev / Cable Ways etc )

 

o   And who knows someday NaviC may even be able to TRACK , each Rs 2000 currency

note with RFID sensor embedded into it?

 

Read :   Will China save the World ?                   [  21  Oct   2018  ]

 

L   :   TIME  FRAME  FOR  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THIS  PROPOSAL

 

Event

Date

Concerned

Publish White Paper

01  Jan  2019

NITI  Aayog

Publish Online Survey

01  Feb   2019

NITI  Aayog

Publish Survey Results

01  March  2019

NITI  Aayog

Seminars ( Traffic Insti / Vehicle Mfrs )

01  April  2019

Shri Prabhu-Shri Gadkari

Present findings to State Trans Ministers

01  May 2019 

Shri Prabhu-Shri Gadkari   

Place order on ISRO ( System Design ) 

01   June  2019  

Transport Ministry

Receive System Design- Drawings  from ISRO 

01  July  2019 

Transport Ministry

Float tender for Software Design- Apps / HW

01  Aug 2019

Transport  Ministry

Place orders on Suppliers    

01  Sept  2019 

Transport Ministry

Mandate to Vehicle Mfrrs  for pre-installing of required RFID sensors / other sensors

01  Sept  2019 

Transport Ministry

All new vehicles to be duly pre- installed 

01 Jan  2020 

Vehicle Manufacturers

Pilot Testing ( without actually debiting RFID Fastag in vehicles )

Jan 20 – Mar 20

System Modifications ( SW + HW ) based on data from soft launch

April 20- June 20

Final launch  

Aug 20

 

  

 

Following are ChatGPT’s observations re my proposal :


Wow, that's quite an extensive and detailed proposal you've laid out!

It's ambitious and seems to cover a wide array of factors in managing transportation and vehicle usage.

The concept of a TRANSCORE linked to a TRANS-TAX, determined by various factors such as energy source, ownership, purpose, age of vehicle, and more, is intriguing.

Creating an Integrated Logistics Plan (ILP) that aims to minimize polluting transport, encourage public transport, and reduce overall transportation while aligning with environmental goals is forward-thinking.

Implementing such a comprehensive system would undoubtedly require significant infrastructure and technological advancements.

It could potentially revolutionize how we approach transportation and vehicle usage, particularly in addressing pollution and congestion issues.

The timeline you've proposed for implementation appears quite detailed and well thought out.

However, the complexity of such a system may also introduce challenges in execution, especially concerning technological integration, compliance from vehicle manufacturers, and public acceptance.

If Minister Kharge's sandbox initiative aims to explore innovative ideas and their feasibility, your proposal could indeed be a strong candidate.

It offers a holistic approach to address multiple facets of transportation challenges.

Have you considered how this proposal aligns with existing policies or frameworks in Karnataka or other parts of India? The integration of such a system would likely necessitate collaboration between different departments and stakeholders.

It might be beneficial to condense the proposal into key points highlighting its potential benefits, feasibility, and alignment with the broader goals of innovation and sustainable development. This could make it more accessible and easier to evaluate within the sandbox framework.

Do you plan to reach out to Minister Kharge directly or through any specific channels to propose this idea for consideration in the sandbox environment?

 

 

And  BARD had following comments :


Your proposal exhibits several desirable qualities that make it a compelling option for addressing climate-related transportation issues:

Comprehensiveness:

Tackling multiple problems simultaneously, like pollution, congestion, and inefficient resource use, increases the overall impact and avoids siloed solutions.

Incentivization:

Motivating users through TRANSCORE and ILP encourages behavioral change and ownership of solutions, fostering a more sustainable transportation culture.

Pigouvian Tax Potential:

Your proposal aligns with the principles of Pigouvian taxes, which aim to internalize the negative externalities of pollution and congestion into user costs. This aligns with economic principles of efficient resource allocation and incentivizes socially responsible behavior.

Global Applicability:

While specific details might require adjustments, the core concepts of TRANSCORE and ILP hold potential for adaptation to most countries facing similar transportation challenges. The focus on data-driven planning, dynamic scoring systems, and collaborative implementation can be tailored to different contexts and policy landscapes.

However, it's important to consider some potential challenges:

Complexity:

Implementing such a comprehensive system requires significant planning, infrastructure upgrades, and technological advancements. Addressing concerns about data privacy and potential inequities in user impacts is also crucial.

Political and Public Will:

Gaining political buy-in and public acceptance for a system with potentially significant changes to user behavior can be challenging. Effective communication and stakeholder engagement are essential.

Adaptability and Continuous Improvement:

The transportation landscape is constantly evolving, and the system needs to be adaptable to new technologies and changing user patterns. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are crucial to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.

Overall, your proposal demonstrates a well-rounded approach to addressing climate-related transportation challenges.

Its potential for positive impact and global applicability is significant, but careful planning, effective communication, and a focus on adaptability will be key to its successful implementation.

I encourage you to continue refining your proposal, address potential challenges, and explore specific implementation strategies.

With dedication and collaboration, your vision of a cleaner and more sustainable transportation future can become a reality.

 

 

 

 

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